Team

our investment team come from diverse backgrounds with complementary skills and experiences, however we share a common vision, to create transformational value for our network of entrepreneurs and investors. we create an open environment where we encourage collaboration ensuring people’s skills are recognised, nurtured, and employed.

William T. Comfort III

Chief Investment Officer

Ty was a private equity investor with CVC Capital Partners, a leading private equity firm based in London, England, from February 1995 until December 2000. From February 2001 to February 2003 he served as a consultant to Citicorp Venture Capital (CVC). He is now principal of Conversion Capital Partners Limited, an investment fund he founded in 2003, with offices in London and New York.

Ty joined the Ergo Science Corp. board of directors in January 2001. He was appointed to the Kofax, Inc. board in 2007. He has served as a member of the board of directors of Lyris, Inc. since June 2002 and has served as its chairman of the board since November 2002. Mr. Comfort also served as a stockholder and director of numerous public and private companies as a representative of CVC Capital Partners and CVC.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and a Juris Doctor and Master of Law in tax law from New York University School of Law. He is also a member of the New York State Bar.

Allen Gibbons

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Allen has over 20 years’ experience in commercial roles across the FMCG sector including over 10 in the drinks industry and he has worked across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. For the last 10 years, he has held a series of senior general management roles in the events industry beginning in 2006 when he joined the board of the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

In 2008 was appointed to the board of the IWSC Group and Nexus Media Events becoming Managing Director of both companies. In the same year he founded the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition along with Debra Meiburg MW and Simon Tam taking advantage of Hong Kong’s historic decision to remove duty on wine. In 2012 he became Group Chief Executive of Columbus Media and Events.

Allen is a Freeman of the City of London, a Steward of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, and a Keeper of the Quaich.

David A. Storey

Chief Financial Officer

David is a Chartered Accountant with over 17 years’ post qualification experience in business roles across multiple industry sectors and international jurisdictions. David comes from a strong background of financial control and Board of Director reporting, following 7 years with Citigroup and The Royal Bank of Scotland, before applying his skills as an independent executive consultant for 10 years, operating as a CFO / Finance Director for small businesses through to publicly listed entities; managing and leading IPOs (FTSE100, NASDAQ, AIM, NYSE), entity acquisitions, finance transformation, and growth.

David has a Bachelor of Science Honours Upper Class degree in Applied and Human Biology, and postgraduate PhD Diabetes research experience, both at Aston University.

Richard Stoppard

CEO Culinary & Creative & Group CMO

Richard is a senior marketing and business development executive with 20+ years’ international blue-chip experience across a number of sectors including: Events, Retail, CPG and Consumer Electronics. Richard has broad experience in; international brand and consumer marketing, events, connected consumer journeys, operations, category management, and strategy with a proven track record in implementation delivering outstanding results, across developed and emerging markets from UK/US to China and Brazil.

In addition to his roles as Chief Marketing Officer and CEO – Culinary & Creative at the Conversion Fund, Richard is also a non-executive director of Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring and the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Leeds University Management School.

Ajit Puri

Investment Director

Ajit has experience working with senior executives and management teams to develop corporate strategy and guide the overall transaction process. He comes from a private equity and venture capital background, having worked in USA and UK.

He serves as Vice President – Corporate Development at IWSC Group, and is on the board of The Whisky Lounge.

Ajit holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from Mumbai University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.